Combined roller and runner skate



w H. RUSHFORTH.

' COMBINED ROLLER AND RUNNER SKATE. No. 255,819.

Patented Apr. 4. 1882.

Flwlu-Lithogrnphm, Washingmm D. c.

UNITE STATES PATENT CFFICE,

W TIL LIAM H. RUSHFORTH, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

COMBINEDROLLER AND RUNNER SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,819, dated April 4, 1882.

Application filed February 26,1881 Renewed October 13, 188]. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern FORTH, of Camden, New Jersey, have invented a Combined Roller and Runner Skate, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to skates for use. either upon ice or upon floors; and it consistsin the combined runner and roller skate hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of my skate as an ice-runner. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same as a roller-skate, the trucks being shown in central sectional elevation Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations respectively of the front and rear roller-trueks. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line a aof Fig. 2, showing the method of attachment bymeans of a thumbscrew of the side plates ofa truck to the runner. Fig. 6. is a front sectional elevation through the trunnion ot' oneof thetrucks on theline b b of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the rear truck,

section being supposed through the runner on the line 0 c of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a central sectional elevational detail, viewed from the front, taken through the roller-axle journal-box on, for instance, the line I) b of Fig. 2; and Fig. 9 is a rear elevational detail of one of the journals of the trucks, showing the method of attachment of the roller-boxes.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A B represent respectively front and back runners of an ice-skate,cou-

nected by an arched piece, 0, and supporting in theusual manner toot-platesD E, adapted to be connected with the foot by studs, clamps, or straps in any usual manner. The ice-runner, which is, as shown, adouhle runner, is provided with notches F and G, respectively formed at the front portions of the front and back runners, A B, the office of which is to receive crossstuds in the clamp-plates of the trucks, whereof hereinafter.

H are the two trucks, conveniently constructed of the form shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 7-that is to say, with a bed-plate or axle-support, I, from which are erected standards J, branching forward from either side of the bedplate, and constituting an integral portion of the same, as well shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The trucks being alike, a description of one will answer for both.

Depending on either side from the bed are journal-box casings, K, which embrace upper and lower aXle-packings, L, adapted to retain theaxlesMoftherollersN. Thesepackingsaro retained in place in their respective casings by means ofapaekingpimO, runninghorizontally through openings in the casings and. loweraXle packingpicce, which pin is prevented from shaking out by means of a sliding lock-piece, P, adjusted on the side of the casings, and adapted to be slipped through an opening in the outer extremity of the packingpin, as well shown in Fig. 9.

j, Fig.8, is a rubber spring inelosedin the casing above the upper-axle packing, to prevent rattling and act as a cushion to the axle.

Q is an oil-receiver tube, (shown in Fig. 8,) adapted to continuously oil the journals of the axles.

Centrally erected upon the bed-plate .I is a trunnion, R, branching at its upper portion into two parallel clamp-plates, S, which are adapted to receive and hold rigidly in place the front and back runners, AB, of the runnerskatc when the latter is applied to the trucks to convert it into aroller-skate. The trunnion (shown in partial sectional detail in Fig. 6,) rests upon acircular packing-ring, T, applied to the bed-plate, which serves as a spring-cushion to the trunnions and its supported foot-plates. A connection permitting of a slight rotation and lateral vibration is established between the trunnion and its supported foot-plate and the bed-plate of the truck by means of the swivel connecting-screw U.

An oil-chamber, V, is formed in the bedplate beneath the base of the trunnion, for the lubrication of the same, in the manner shown in Fig. 6. I

W are side spring-cushions, ofrubbcr or kindred materiahaffixctl tothe inner upper extremities ofthe standards J or upper portions of the trucks, which cushions project inward against the clamp-plates of the trunnion and serve to cushion said plates (which really con stitute the frame of the foot-plates) against the truck in the rotation or vibration of the trunnion aboutt-he truck, which action, whether it be of rotation or vibration, is due to the various movements of the skater in turning, rollin g, and balancing.

Such being adescription ofthe construction of one of the trucks, it is to be repeated that both trucks are of the same construction, differing only in the form of their clamp-plates S, as contrasted in Figs. 3 and 4, to adapt said clamp-plates to properly embrace front and back runners of slightly different shape.

The application of the runners to the trucks is by introducing the front and back runners into their respective trucks between the clampplates thereof by engaging their respective notches F G with cross-studs X Y, set between theclamp-plates, (shownin Figs. 2 and 7,) and finally by tightening thumb-screws Z, screwing through threaded holes (I c in the clampplates and through holes fg in the runners, bored to register with the holes first named when the trucks have been properly applied.

h t are teats or lips formed in or applied to the front of the front runner and the back of the back runner, as well shown in Fig. 1,

their office being to assist the skaterin retaining and recovering his balance when the skate is employed as an ice-runner.

The form of the bridge-piece O, which connects the front and back runner,is arched, by which construction the greatest strength is given to the skate whether employed upon the ice or upon a floor.

It will be observed that in the use of my device as a parlor-skate thefoot-plates in reality rest upon springs, the action of the rubber packing-ring T, upon which the trunnio'ns of the clamp-plate rest, and of the rubber springs j, being that of springs, while in addition thereto a certain amount of lateral vibration is allowed to the foot-plates by the lateral movement of the trunnion against the side cushions, which control and steady such lateral throw.

From the foregoing relationship of parts results the advantage that each truck is separately so adjusted as to be capable of independent movements irrespective of the other truck, whereby my roller-skate is adapted to accommodate itself without jar to the user to irregular floors, pavements, or the like. Each truck being also separately capable of a slight rotationabout its trunnion-axis, renders the skate well adapted for use in the turning of sharp curves and lessens the chances of breaking strains upon the trucks.

It is obvious, finally, that as a roller-skate my device is wholly self-lubricating, being provided with means for retaining oil enough to continuouslylubricate all parts subjected to friction.

Ido not confine myself to the exact form of detailed parts shown, as it is obvious that many formal changes can be made by a skillful mechanic without departure from the essential features of my invention. Thus, for instance, under proper modification the ice-runner can be made as a single instead of as a double runner, or the trucks applied directly to the foot-plates.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. As a combined runner and roller skate, the combination of a double ice-runner, A B, united by abridge-piece, G, which establishes a fixed relation between its respective runners, with two separate roller-trucks removably applied to the runners, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a runner-skate, two separate roller trucks removably applied thereto, and each having an independent vibratory and rotary motionwith respect to the plane of the foot-pieces of the runner-skate, substantially as set forth.

3. As ameans of attaching the foot-plates and the runner of a skate to two separate roller-trucks, the clamp-plates S, being a part of the trucks, and being adapted to embrace the runner by means of cross-studs connected with the clamp-plates and engaging with notches in the runners, and by'means of thumb-screws adapted to unite both clamp-plates and runners, substantially in the manner set forth.

4. In combination with a runner-skate, two separate roller-trucks removably applied thereto by means of clamp-plates, in the manner described, and each connected with the runners in such manner as to each be capable of independent vibratory and oscillatory motion with respect thereto, substantially as set forth.

5. The oil-chamber V, formed in the bedplate I at the base of the trunnionR and about the connecting-screw U,as and for the purpose specified.

6. As a devieefor securing the axles of rollertrucks, the combination of the journal box casings A, upper and lower paekings, L, packingpin 0, and sliding lock-piece P, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of Febrnary,A.D.18S1.

WILIiIAilI HENRY RUSHFORTH. 

